75 Years of Auto Mechanics

1968 Chrysler

In 1948 the Salt Lake Area Vocational School (SLAV) opened its doors to students for the first time, offering a handful of programs, including automobile mechanics. The classrooms at SLAV were designed to simulate the industrial shops at the time in Salt Lake Valley to meet industry standards. The automobile mechanics program was designed as a two-year pre-apprentice program to meet passenger cars and small trucks' essential maintenance and repair principles.

Project cars were introduced to the auto mechanic program in 1955, providing students in the various auto mechanic areas with hands-on experience working on a car. The project car consisted of the school purchasing a car that was declared a total loss, and students worked to restore it to the car close to its original condition mechanically possible to do. The project car was discontinued at the end of the 1973-74 school year due to inflation and the increased cost of auto parts.

By the 20th anniversary of the College, under a new name of Utah Technical College at Salt Lake (UTC-SL), the program became eligible for Associates of Applied Science (AAS). This meant that those students who went through the program were no longer earning a certificate, but a substantial degree upon completion.

Dennis O'Reilly, associate professor of Auto Mechanics, mentions the extensive evolution of the auto mechanics program has gone through over the years. "I obtained my AAS degree from SLCC back in 1978. The cars and technology we had back then are completely different from the current one," says Dennis. "Our program is designed to teach our students not only mechanics but to be excellent learners, as we are in an ever-evolving industry where adapting and learning is required to stay up-to-date, because what I am teaching today may not be applicable in five to ten years from today."

Associate Professor Dennis O'Reilly With His Students

By the year 2022, the majority of the automotive courses moved to Salt Lake Technical College.

Comments

Rev Up Your Future at SLCC Annuals Hop into College

SLCC West Valley Center will be opening its doors on Friday, August 2, from 6-9 pm for their annual lowrider event that celebrates the automotive culture and welcomes current, past, and future Bruins into the SLCC community. This unique event allows lowriders to showcase their vehicles and for spectators to witness the creativity, craftsmanship, and passion that goes into a lowrider car. From the sleek custom paint jobs to the impressive hydraulics showcased at the hop-off, attendees get immersed in the vibrant culture created by SLCC West Valley’s community. Beyond the car show, Hop into College provides prospective students and their families the opportunity to explore SLCC, engage with their future peers, staff and faculty and obtain valuable insight into the degrees and programs offered. Furthermore, the community is provided with countless beneficial resources not only as an SLCC student but as a community member. Whether interested in learning more about the lowrider community o...

SLCC Alumnus and U.S. Diplomat to Speak at 2025 Commencement

Salt Lake Community College’s 2025 Commencement speaker Branigan Knowlton will share his perspectives drawn from a 12-year career as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of State. In serving his country, Knowlton has honed his foreign relations and diplomacy skills in Hong Kong, Mexico, Colombia and Italy. Knowlton is also a proud Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) alumnus (2002). Knowlton currently serves at the U.S. Embassy in Rome. Before reporting to the embassy, he was detailed to the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport as part of the Transatlantic Diplomatic Fellowship program. In Bogotá, Knowlton worked for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, and in Hermosillo, Mexico, he worked for the Bureau of Consular Affairs. His first assignment abroad was in Hong Kong, where he worked for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. "I've actively sought opportunities that push me into the unfamiliar, even when ...

Recognizing SLCC's 2025 Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Andrew Vogt, PhD Associate Professor, Engineering

The Distinguished Faculty Lecturer is a recognition of quality work by one of Salt Lake Community College’s full-time faculty and a charge to develop that work over an academic year into a public presentation. A committee chosen by the Associate Provost for Learning Advancement selects the faculty lecturer each year. The lecture takes place in the spring. Distinguished Faculty Lecturer Andrew Vogt, PhD Associate Professor, Engineering Dr. Andrew Vogt’s teaching philosophy is guided by two principles, curiosity and efficiency. “Curiosity leads us to study a topic and allows us to really understand the ins and outs of research, while efficiency is all about sustainability,” he says. Andrew describes curiosity as a pure, open-minded impulse to explore, such as the ease with which children learn new concepts with virtually no instruction. Efficiency adds maturity to that childlike impulse, creating structures and pathways for accomplishment. Andrew’s work has alwa...

Official SLCC Blog

Search This Blog